PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — This Father's Day, a Philadelphia nonprofit is recognizing the contributions that dads make to their families.
Cathy McVey Palmer, founder of Honey's Angels, says this is the first year that they're giving gifts to dads through their new Devoted Dads program.
"I think that in so many ways, mothers are the stars of families and they sort of get a lot of the credit, and it's deserving, but dads are so important, too," she said.
Over the past few weeks, the organization solicited exemplary stories of fatherhood.
"There were several men who have cared for their wives' children," recalled Palmer. "There was a stepdad who is terminally ill with liver disease and just found out his stepson has permanent brain damage and he rearranged their whole house for when the son comes home. There are of course a few dads on the front lines of COVID."
Other stories include a father taking care of both his children and his own father who requires round-the-clock care. "There's an all-star dad in Fishtown and then there's a dad who most reminded me of my own who lost his wife to stage 4 cancer and was finally starting to find his way out and then Covid hit," Palmer added.
But for her, what's more important than the Father's Day gifts that her organization is distributing, are the accolades. She said present and caring dads are crucial to healthy families.
"I think fatherhood has evolved a lot over the years," Palmer said, "and I think that's an awesome thing."